Below is VASEP's Press Release on the establishment of VASEP CERACO:
PRESS RELEASE
Establishment of “VASEP Sustainability Certification Advisory Council” to support and promote businesses to effectively apply sustainability certifications
Vietnam is the third largest seafood exporter in the world. Seafood export turnover increased from 1.8 billion USD in 2000 to 8.8 billion USD in 2018, and according to Vietnam's seafood development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the export value will reach 14-16 billion USD by 2030. Of which, aquaculture products contribute the majority of over 60-65% and this share will certainly continue to increase in the future.
Vietnam's seafood products (mainly shrimp and pangasius) have been exported to more than 160 markets around the world and are holding a certain position in fastidious markets such as the US, Japan, the EU, and the US. Korea, Australia…
However, with the increase in seafood production and exports, the import markets are also increasingly demanding requirements, standards and certifications to control and promote sustainable aquaculture practices.
In the past time, VASEP Association has conducted a survey and synthesized opinions of member enterprises related to some shortcomings and difficulties in some procedures and criteria when implementing ASC certification standards. The Association is also receiving active coordination from the ASC Organization regarding the recommendations that have been collected and compiled.
Determining this is an important and meaningful activity, today on May 19, 2021, at the webinar "Sustainability certifications: win-win cooperation for effective application" organized by VASEP, the Association has announced the decision to establish the VASEP Sustainability Certifications Advisory Council (VASEP CERACO) with a list of council members, operating regulations and annual action plan of 2021.
VASEP CERACO will perform 4 main functions following:
- Comment on standards and procedures for seafood certification
- Summarize difficulties and problems of member enterprises to exchange, dialogue, and propose to solve with the certificate holder
- Coordinate with parties to support capacity building of member enterprises to implement certifications
- Promote Vietnam’s certified seafood enterprises and their products
VASEP CERACO Council will support VASEP member businesses to apply well and conveniently international sustainability certifications, contributing to improving the value and position of Vietnam's seafood products in the world market, aiming to achieve the goal of seafood export reaching 14-16 billion USD by 2030.
-----------------------------------------------
VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF SEAFOOD EXPORTERS AND PRODUCERS (VASEP)
Address: No 7, Nguyen Quy Canh Road, An Phu Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430; Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437; Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
Contact: Ms. Tran Thuy Que Phuong
Email: quephuong@vasep.com.vn ; Cellphone: (+84) 903067266
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn